Duncan MacDougall/McDougall House

by mscott Posted on October 25, 2012
Courtesy GTHS

3498 McBean St.

The MacDougall (McDougall) family lived on this property from 1862 until 1928.  Duncan MacDougall was a wagon maker and blacksmith. His property was originally 2 acres in size; it included the house, a woodworking shop, a hen house, stable, open drive shed, extensive gardens and pasture. In 1928, his daughters sold the property to R.H. (Harold) Moore whose sisters lived here for many years.  Mr. Moore was a merchant (1923-1948), businessman and also Reeve from 1947-1949. Continue reading →

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The Malloch House

by mscott Posted on October 20, 2012
view from McBean St. 2012

3551 McBean St.

From 1834, this property was owned by Edward Malloch, merchant, member of the Legislative Assembly, land speculator, mortgage broker, and county sheriff.  Although Edward moved from Richmond to Bytown in 1840 he continued to own large tracks of village land.  After his death in 1867, his wife, Margaret, daughter of the legendary Maria and Andrew Hill, continued to own much land in the village including this lot.  The exact date of the construction of the house is unknown but Margaret Malloch may have had it built for her mother and stepfather, Andrew Taylor. Continue reading →

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Captain George Lyon (1790 – 1851)

by mscott Posted on October 13, 2012

By James McTavish

Captain George Lyon of the 99th/100th regiment – was the major merchant and mill owner in Richmond. He was elected to the Assembly of Upper Canada (1832) and Canada West (1846).  Capt. Lyon owned an “Estate” south of Burke Street in the southwest corner of the village where he built a dam and ran a sawmill, a gristmill, a distillery, a fulling mill, and a forge. He and his wife Catherine had 15 children. Several of their sons made major contributions to the area. Robert was a respected judge, Mayor of Ottawa (1867) and M.P. (1869-1871). His eldest brother, George Byron Lyon-Fellowes was a M.P.P. (1845-1859) and mayor of Ottawa (1876).  William was Reeve of Richmond (1850-1854) and ran the family store.  Arthur was the village doctor during the 1860’s and 1870’s.  Another brother, Robinson E. Lyon moved from Richmond in the 1880s to Flower Station where the family served as station agents for the Kingston-Pembroke Railway.  Other members of his family served at other locations along that line.  Robinson’s son, George Seymour Lyon, was born and raised in Richmond, later moving to Toronto.  He gained notoriety as an athlete, golf and cricket in particular.   He was the World Amateur Golf Champion and the last Olympic Champion in golf (the St. Louis Olympics of 1904). Continue reading →

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Catherine Radenhurst Lyon (Letter written October 16, 1814)

by mscott Posted on October 13, 2012

by James McTavish

 The following letter was written by Catherine on the above date while she stayed at Chippawa in 1814 during the Battle of Chippawa Creek, one of the battles of the War of 1812.  In early times, it was common for the wives of officers to accompany their husbands to the battles, staying in the fortresses or encampments and nursing the wounded among other duties.  The Lyons had just returned to Chippawa with George having just recovered from severe wounds suffered in an earlier battle there. It is amazing that a girl of that time born in 1793, writes so well with only home schooling at a military out post. Continue reading →

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George Seymour Lyon

by mscott Posted on October 12, 2012

By James McTavish

George Seymour Lyon

Robinson Lyon’s son, George Seymour Lyon, was born and raised in Richmond, later moving to Toronto.  This grandson of Captain George Lyon gained notoriety as an athlete, golf and cricket in particular.   He was the World Amateur Golf Champion and the last Olympic Champion in golf (the St. Louis Olympics of 1904). Continue reading →

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Wilson – Lyon Duel

by mscott Posted on October 11, 2012

 

By James McTavish

Robert Lyon (1812 – 1833)

With his older brother, Captain George Lyon, well established in the military settlement of Richmond and holding considerable influence in the region through personal and political connections, Robert Lyon had been encouraged to come to Canada in the summer of 1829 accompanied by his sister Margaret Lyon (b. June 28, 1805).  Robert had been a student for three sessions in the class of 1826 – 1830 at King’s College, Aberdeen.  With this background, he was qualified to secure a law apprenticeship with Thomas M. Radenhurst, lawyer, in Perth.  Radenhurst was the brother-in-law of Robert’s brother, Captain George Lyon. Within four years, Robert had made his small contribution to Canadian history, for he was the Robert Lyon who was allegedly the last person to be killed in a duel on Canadian soil, at Perth, in the then Bathurst District, June 13, 1833. Continue reading →

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The Siblings of Captain George Lyon

by mscott Posted on October 11, 2012

By James McTavish

Captain George Lyon of Richmond was born in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1790, the eldest child of George Lyon, long time Baillie (Mayor) of that town and his wife, Elspet Philip.  There were a total of ten children in the family. Four members of the family subsequently came to Canada and the Richmond area. Continue reading →

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George Brown/Bank/Orange Lodge Building

by mscott Posted on October 11, 2012

3550 McBean St.

George Brown’s Store – illustration from Map of Carleton County – Walling 1863

This building was constructed  in the mid nineteenth century when commercial traffic on McBean St. was at its height and the village was bustling. George Brown, a former village reeve operated a store here in 1860’s.  Little is known about the usage of the building in the last three decades of the century, but in 1900 the Brown Brothers, James & Robert, (no known relation to George) were operating a store at this location, and subsequently moved their business next door.  In 1905, the Bank of Ottawa opened its doors in the newly renovated building and in 1928 it became a branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia. In 1923, members of Loyal Orange Lodge (#151) purchased the building; since that time, the upper floors have been used for lodge meetings and social gatherings. In 1970 the bank moved to a new building further north on McBean St. Continue reading →

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Patrick McElroy/ Brown Bros. Store

by mscott Posted on October 9, 2012
McElroy’s Store circa 1900 courtesy GTHS

3556 McBean St.

This building, at least parts of which were probably built before 1851, was used by Patrick McElroy as a combined store and residence. Situated in the heart of Richmond’s commercial area, it was one of four general stores in the immediate area. On the 1851 census, the McElroy building is listed as the site of Orange Lodge #151. The second storey was also home of the Masonic Lodge for several years.  From 1905, “Brown Brothers” store was operated here by James and Robert Brown and then later by Robert’s son, George. By 1951 when this building was sold to Gordon Steinburg, the other stores were long gone.  Village development to the north and village life in general had made this type of establishment obsolete. Continue reading →

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Lyon/Birtch Bros. Store

by mscott Posted on September 21, 2012

3559 McBean St.

courtesy
Bytown or Bust

This building is the last remnant of the commercial successes of the esteemed Lyon family which dominated not only village life, but also the politics of Carleton County and Ottawa through much of the early nineteenth century. William R.R. Lyon who owned this building was the son of Captain George Lyon of the 99th/100th regiment – the major merchant and mill owner in the village and his wife Catherine Lyon. A store was operated at this location for almost 150 years.

Continue reading →

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